Washing machine



Dec. 18, 1928.

F. G. GIES WASHING MACHINE Filed 061;. 15, 1927 .I ID

A TTORNEY Patented Dec. is, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

1mm: G. GIES, O1" DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ABSIGNOB O ONE-HALF TO LEONARDLEBZCZYNSKI, 013 DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

WASHING MACHINE.

Application filed October 15, 1927. Serial No. 226,274.

- 10 like seal secured to the shaftand a portion of the tub in order toprevent leakage.

With the above and other objects in view,

my invention consists in the arrangement,

combination and construction of the various 15 parts of my improveddevice as described in.

the specification, claimed in my claims and shown in the accompanyingdrawings, in which;

Fig. 1 is a view partly in section and partly 2 in elevation of awashing machine embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a view taken on line 3--3 of Fig. 1.

I have shown a washing machine compris- 25 ing a tub 5 having anintegral piece 6 forming a portion of the bottom thereo and a separate 11ece 7 secured to the piece 6 rivets 8 and orming the remainder of theottom thereof. The piece 7 is somewhat drum shaped in 30 formation andis provided with a central apertured boss 9 in which is fitted a bushing10 havin a flange 11 fitted on the top of the boss within the tub.Extended thru the bushing 10 is a shaft 12 which is provided 35 withhelical grooves 13 at its top and is socured to a member 14 by a nut 15at its bottom. A connecting rod 16 is secured to the clevis 17 and-pins18 to the lower end of the member 14.

The connecting rod is secured at its lower end by a pin 19 to a wormgear 20, the connection being an eccentric one so that rotation of thegear will vertically reciprocate the rod. The car 20 is meshed with aworm 21 pro- 45 vide on the shaft 22 mounted in suitable bearings of thebase 23. The shaft 22 is driven thru a universal joint 24 by an electricmotor 25. The motor 25 is bolted to a base member 23 as at 27 and thewashing machine 50 base member is likewise bolted as at 28 to the base26.

The bushingdO is held in fixed position byt nut 29 on the threads 30 ofscrewing a 5 he bushing is provided with an the boss 9.

upward extension which encloses the helix ositive to prevent leak- 13and a pair of keys 31 are inserted in the extension and mesh with thehelical groove 13. Each of the keys 31 is split into two sections whichmay be separated by shims 32 in order that the length of the keys may beadjusted. After the length has been adjusted the keys are secured inlace by screwing a nut 33 into the upper en of the bushing 10. The nutma beheld in fixed position by pins 34.

n agitator device comprisin a central portion 35 and blades 36 is provied, the central portion engaging around the upper portion of the bushing10 and keyed thereto as at .37 so as to rotate therewith. The agitatoris held in fixed vertical position by resting on the flange 38 providedon the bushing 10. i

A drain for the tub 5 is shown at 39 which dram may be opened andclosedb means of a plug 40 on the end of a rod 41. he rod 41 1sconnected at its outer end as at 42 to a throw prov1ded on the shaft 43and operated by a handle 44.

A passage 45 connects the drain 39 with a space 46 which is providedbetween the bottom of the member 7 and flexible diaphragm like piece 47.The latter iece is secured at its outer ed es between t e bottom of themember 7 an the top of the base piece 23 by a plurality of setscrews 48.The the hragm is secured around. the shaft12 by acing its inner edgeunder the flange 58 of t e member 14 and screwing the nut 49011 thethreads 50 and against the lower face of the inner periphery of thediaphragm.

The nut 49 may be locked in place by a pin or pins 51 extended thruopenings therein into suitable aligned openings 52 in the member 14. Y Y

It will be readily apparent that rotation of the motor shaft 22 willcause reciprocation thru the connected parts of the shaft because of theconnection of the keys 31 with the helix 13, will cause rotaryreciprocation of the agitator blades 36. any water finds 12 and thatreciprocation of the shaft 12, 1

drain 39. If an excessive amount of water should accumulate in the space46 while the machine is in operation it may escape thru the opening 56in the member 7 back into the tub. The opening 56 is normally maintainedclosed by a ball valve 53 seated therein and resiliently held by aspring finger 54 secured by a screw 55 to the bottom of the member 7.

It will be obvious that I have provided a machine which willsuccessfully operate without leakage of water and which does not requireexpensive stufling boxes.

It will be obvious that various changes may be made in the arrangement,combination and construction of the various parts of my improved devicewithout departing from the splritof my invention and it is my intentionto cover by my claims such changes as may be reasonably included withinthe scope thereof.

What I-claim is:

1. A washing machine comprising a tub and an agitator therein, a driverpositioned outside the tub, driving means connecting said driver andagitator, and a flexible .member connected at one edge to a portion ofthe tub assembl and at another edge to a portion of the riving means andacting to seal the tub against leakage around the driving means. I

2. A washing machine comprising a tub and an a itator therein, a driverpositioned outside the tub, driving means connecting said driver andagitator, like member connected at one edge to a portion of the tubassembly and at another edge to a portion of the drlving means andacting to seal the tub against leakage around the driving means.

3. A washing machine comprising a tub and an a 'tator therein, a driverpositioned outside t e tub, driving means connecting said driver andagitator, and a non-metallic diaphragm like member connected at one edgeto a portion of the tub assembly and at another ed e to a portion of thedriving means and actin to seal the tub against leakage around the rivinmeans.

4. A washing machine comprising a tub and an agitator therein, a driverpositioned outside the tub, a reciprocating member connecting the driverand agitator for driving the latter,.a flexible member connected at oneedge to said member and at another edge to a portion of the tub assemblyand acting to ieal the tub against leakage around the mem- 5. A washingmachine comprising a tub and an agitator therein, a. driver positionedoutside the tub, a reciprocating member connecting the driver andagitator for driving the latter, a diaphragm-like member connected atoneedge to said member and at another edge to a portion of the tub assemanda diaphragm bly and acting to seal the tub against leakage around themember.

6. A washing machine comprising a tub and an agitator therein, a bearingin the bottom of the tub, a shaft in said bearing connected at one endwith the agitator and having its other end extended thru the bottom ofthe tub, driving means connected with the latter end of the shaft forreciprocating it and the agitator and a flexible member connected at oneedge to the shaft and at another edge to a portion of the tub assemblyand adapted to catch any leakage from the tub around the shaft bearing.

7. A washing machine comprising a tub and an agitator therein, a bearingin the bottom of the tub, a shaft in said bearing connected at one endwith the agitator and having its other end extended thru the bottom ofthe tub, driving means connected with the latter end of the shaft forreciprocating it and the agitator ffa flexible member connected at oneedgeto the shaft and at another edge to a portion of the tub assemblyand adapted to catch any leakage from the tub around the shaft bearing,and a relief device permitting liquid escape from the space between thetub bottom and flexible member when a redetermind amount of liquid hasbeen col ected in the space.

8. A washing machine comprising a tub and an agitator therein, a bearingin the bottom of the tub, a shaft in said bearin connected at one endwith the agitator and having its other end extended thru the bottom ofthe tub, driving means connected with the latter end of the shaft forreciprocating it and the agitator, a flexible member connected at oneedge to the shaft and at another edge to a portion of the tub assemblyand ada ted to catch any leakage from the tub around the shaft bearing,and a relief device permittin liquid esca e from the space between thetu bottom and flexible member when a predetermined amount of liquid hasbeen collectedin the space, said device comprising a valve opening thruthe tub bottom.

9. A washing machine comprising a tub and an a tutor therein, a bearinin the bottom of t e tub, a shaft in said caring connected at one endwith the agitator and having its other end extended thru the bottom ofthe tub, driving means connected with the latter end of the shaft forreciprocating it and the agitator, a flexible member connected at oneedge to the shaft and at another edge to a portion of the tub assemblyand adapted to catch any leakage from the tub around the shaft bearing,and means for draining the space between the bottom of the tub and theflexible member.

10. A washing machine comprising a tub and an agitator therein, abearing in the bottom of the tub, a shaft in said bearin connected atone end with the agitator and hav- 'tom oft of the agitator, and aflexible member con-v nected at one edge to the shaft and at anotheredgeto a portion ofthe tub assembly and adapted to catch any leakage fromthe tub around the shaft bearing.

11. A washing machine comprising a tub and an a 'tator therein, abearing in the bote tub, a shaft in said'bearing connected at one endwith the agitator and having its other end extended thru the bottom ofthe tub, driving means connected with the latter end of the shaft forreciprocating it and the agitator, means between the agitator and shaftfor translating vertical reciproca- ,tion of the shaft into rotaryreciprocation of the agitator, said means comprising a helix on one ofthe two and a member operatively enga ing the helix on the other, and aflexible mem 1' connected at one edge to the shaft and at another edgeto a portion of the tub assembly and adapted to catch any leakage fromthe tub around the shaft bearing.

12. A washing machine comprising a tub and an agitator therein, anapertured boss in the bottom of the tub, a bushing in the aperturehaving a flange seating on the top of the-boss, a nut on the bosspressing the flange against the boss, a shaft in'the bushing extendingfrom the inside to the outside ofthe tub, a driver for the shaft outsidethe tub and a connection joining the shaft to the agitator Within thetub.

13. A Washing machine comprising a tub and an agitator therein, anapertured boss in the bottom of the tub, a bushing in the aperturehaving a flange seat on the top of the boss, a nut on the boss pressingthe flange against the boss, a shaft in the bushing extendin from theinsideito the outside of the tu a driver for the shaft outside the tuband a connection joining the shaft to the agitator within the tub, saidconnection comprising a helix on the shaft and a key connected to theagitator and operable in the helix.

14:. A washing machine comprising a tub and an agitator therein, anapertured boss in the bottom of the tub, a bushing in the aperturehaving a flange seat on the top of the boss, a nut on the boss pressingthe flange against the boss, a shaft in the bushing extending from theinside to the outside of the tub, a driver for the shaft outside the tuband a connection joining the shaft to the agitator within the tub, and aseal for the shaft comprising a flexiblemember secured around the shaftbeneath the tub and extending and secured to a portion of the tubassembly.

